1/9/12

Confused, lost, need directions...?


This is so confusing I actually understand it.  Suppose you are on a major road (going north) that is going to separate into two other ones and as it does you are currently in the right lane.  You want to go East (which would be on the right), so you exit left and follow the road as it goes underneath the road you were formerly on and then goes right (East).  Confused?  I don't blame you!!!  Other than this little convoluted explanation, the sign makes no sense at all.  But, I understand that this could happen, so why not accept its possibility and go with it.  Akin to this, we find in our Bibles, the book of Revelation and its apparently confusing imagery.  Take a moment and read these few verses and see if the direction it takes you makes sense...

WEB: Revelation of John Chapter 1

[1] This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, [2] who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.

[3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.

[4] John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; [5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; [6] and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[7] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

[8] "“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”" says the Lord God, "“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”"

[9] I John, your brother and partner with you in oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. [10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet [11] saying, "“What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”"

Pet peeve here... it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not of John.  While I am at it, it is not Revelations, its REVELATION.  Good! That is over; I have vented for the day!!!!  But, what I really wanted to mention is that the events of this revelation were to happen soon.  The language used in the book is primarily symbolic and not literal because being literal would have been easily understood by the Roman government of the day and resulted in the extermination of all the Christians.  The seven churches were real congregations and the problem was real, but the language is figurative.  Is this confusing or what?  That is the idea, confuse those who probably would have never read the Old Testament prophets and say what you will.  Today, people make all sorts of crazy predictions and outlandish comments on this book that I have to wonder if they have ever read the Old Testament at all.  But, know this; just as I was thinking of an actual road when I explained the odd road marker above, so the Christians of the first century would have understood their reality coupled with the Old Testament Scriptures.  The clear message of Revelation is that God will overcome all evil (including the mighty Roman Empire) and in the end Christians will find joy, peace and eternal life with God.  Can you say these things about your life?  Need directions?  Just ask; I will be glad to show you the signposts....

Rejoice Always by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/1th5_16.htm

An exhortation worth remembering... Gary